Bicycle or tricycle.



J. A. MYERS.

BICYCLE 0R TRICYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-2. :91].

1,258,431. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATI'ORN EY J. A. MYERS.

BICYCLE 0R TRICYCLE.

APPLICATlON man mm. 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll ll 5 n K. I

1321... s? a t l ATTOF! N EY Elf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN AUGUST MYERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BICYCLE OR TBICYCLE.

Application filed January 2, 1917.

To all whom it may concern.

lie it known that .l. dorm A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ulevcland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Bicycle or Tllricycle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to vehicles of the type known as bicycles or tricycles, and its object is to provide a driving mechanism wherein power is stored in an inertia element to contribute to the steadiness of drive, and wherein a spokcless drive wheel may be employed, whether such drive wheel be of the single or double type.

The invention con'iprises a driving mechanism lodged in and forming sustaining means for the rear or driving wheel of the vehicle, or driving wheels of the vehicle in the case of a tricycle. The vehicle may be n'ovided with an ordinary form of diamond frame with a front fork and front wheel corresponding to the usual parts of like character as employed in bicycles. Furthermore, the usual crank shaft and sprocket wheel are employed and the remainder of the frame of the vehicle may in most partcorrespond to the structure of an ordinary bicycle, being changed in some respects be cause of the peculiar driving mechanism employed.

Whether one or two driving wheels be used they are in the main alike. The driv ing wheel comprises a rim with an inwardly directed radial flange, the rim being arranged to carry the usual pneumatic tire. The wheel, however, is a spokcless and hubless wheel, the rim and flange being in the form of an annulus. The frame is pro vided with a rear axle carrying driving and supporting rollers in such divergent relation as to sustain the drive wheel by engagement with the interior flange thereof. The roller carrying frame also sustains an inertiiit or fly wheel, and at the point corresponding to the hub of an ordinary wheel the frame carries a. hub with sprocket wheels, one of which is connected to the driving sprocket wheel of the crank shaft by a suitable sprocket chain, while the other one connected by a sprocket chain to sprocket wheels fast to the inertia wheel and to one of the rollers by means of which the driving wheel receives motion from the crank shaft.

in the case of a tricycle provision is made Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 140,169.

for two rear driving wheels which may be made to approach or recede at the tread portions, thereby varying the supporting part of the vehicle as to width, and in the event of the spreading of the wheels increasing the stability of the tricycle.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the d. 'awings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the d 'awings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle embodying the invention.

Fig. 52 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, but on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a view of the roller Carrying frame as seen from the front of the bicycle.

Fig. at is a rear view of the frame shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a tricycle constructed in accordance with. the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5 but drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-4 of Fig. 5 but drawn on the scale of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7, but omitting distant parts.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a frame 1 such as is customarily employed on bicycles, and known as a diamond frame. The usual steering post 2 is provided with a front fork 3, handle bars ii: and front wheel 5, as well as a pedal shaft 6 and sprocket wheel 7 thereon, all as are customcry in bicycles.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4?, which are illustrative of a bicycle embody ing the invention, there is a rear or driving wheel 8 comprising a rim 9 with an interior annular flange 10 projecting for a short distance radially toward the axis of the rim, which latter is shown as arranged for the reception of a tire 11 which may be of the cushion or pneumatic type, or of any other ty ie desired.

The frame 1 has rear forks i2, 13 in the main corresponding to the rear forks of lllounted on the shaft 15 is a iiramc an ordinary bicycle frame and carrying journal bearings for a shattor atle lo.

comprising in the particular showing 0 the drawings three divergent arms 17, 18, 19, respectively. The arm 1'? has forked extremity 20 in which is mounted a roller 21 having a peripheral groove E22 seating the inner edge of the flange 10. The arm 18 is provided with an extension. 2?? terminating a fork i l in Which is mounted a roller having a peripheral. groove seating the flange 10. The extension .23 is in the form of a threaded stein threaded into the end oi" the arm 18 and there held by a lock nut 26, so that the etlective length of the arm 18 with the i sion 23? may be varied. The arm 19 may be a simple forked 1 arm and has a roller 2'? mounted therein, this roller also having a. peripheral groove 28 seating the flange 10. The roller 27 is shown as larger than either of the rollers 21 or 25, although all the rollers may be of the same size.

Mounted on the shaft is a sprocket wheel 29 and also on the shaft 15 there is a sprocket pinion 30 exterior to the frame member 12. The driving sprocket Wheel 7 and the sprocket pinion 30 are connected by a sprocket chain 31 in the same manner as in ordinary bicycles.

The frame 16 has other arms 32 joining at their forward ends in bearings 23 in which are jour aled an inertia Wheel 34; having at one side thereof and attached thereto a sprocket pinion 35 in line with the sprocket heel The frame 16 has other journal bearings 36, by means of which the frame is mounted on the axle lo, but not secured thereto, so that the axle may turn Without allectiug, the frame 16.

The rollers carried 1y tie frame 16 engage and niaiiitain the Wheel 8 in proper relation. to the frame 1, this being facilitated by 3? between the arm 18 and the from .ueinber 12, so that the two are joined with some Flexibility of? movement between them.

The roller 53'? has a sprocket pinion 38 tast thereto, and engaging. about the sprocket- Wheel 29. the sprocket prince-35 and the sprocket pinion. is a sprocket chain 39.

The grip of the roller 27 upon the drive Wheel 8 is determined. by the effective length of the e. tension which may be adjusted by means of the out 526. The rollers 21 and. 52 53 are idlers, and so do not interfere with the turning; oi the drive Wheel. The roller 2'3, however, is conitiected by the sprocket chain 39- to the sprocket 'ivheel .ZFlhud the inertia wheelfi-il While the sprocket wheel 29 is dr venbypower applied to the pedals ififllTlQt l. to the driv- 111g sprocket Wheel 7. "Power may be applied to drive the machine from a motor, h as indicated in. dotted lines at 7 in l. "li hen it is desired to ride the bicycle the rider propels the machine by foot power or drives it by the motor in the usual Way, inotion being thereby imparted to the inertia Wheel 3% and to the drive roller 2"? and :trornthe latter to the drive Wheel. ln order to sustain the drive Wheel and maintain the driving pressure of the roller 2? on the flange 10 the rollers are separated by a suitable distance circumferentiallv of the drive Wheel, a spacing of one hundred and twenty degrees being particularly etlective, but a less spacing between certain of the rollers and a greater spacing between others is admissible. y

The inertia Wheel 34: is advantageous in imparting; a snadinees of motion, greatly contributing to the ease of driving the bicycle.

In Figs. 5 to 8 there is shovvn a tricycle structure and certain parts of the frame of the vehicle or machine agree with the showing of Fig. l, and therefore the same reference numerals have been applied and no further description of such common parts is uecessaiy In the tricycle two rear drive Wheels are provided side by side. These drive Wheels are alike and are also like the drive Wheel 8 Instead of employing" rear forks like the 7 forks 1.2 and 13 oil? Fig. 1, the frame is provided With rear tubes 40 and 41, respectively, terminating at the rear ends in forks 42 and 43, respectively, joining in journal bearings let for an axle 45 carrying at one end a sprocket pinion 46 connected by a sprocket chain l? to the sprocket 'WllGCl'Z.

Mounted onthe axle or shaft 45 is. a :lrame l8 having side members llcarried by the shaft or aided-5 on opposite sides'of a sprocket Wheel 50 last to the axle ll and corresponding to the sprocket Wheel 29 of the structure of Fig. l. The frame lS corresponds to the frame 16 of the structure of 1, but varies therefromv in some particulars. It is provided 1 with divergent armscorresponding to those of the frauieltw and designated in the showing of Fig. 5am] associated figures as arms 1 7 18 and 19?, respectively. 21*. The arm 18* has an extension 23 which, however, terminates ina cross head 51carryi g rollers at opposite ends, each roller heing peripherallygroovedwto engage The arm 17 carries rollers till ally expanded fork end 19 carrying a shaft 52 journaled in the fork.

Mounted on the shaft 52 are two rollers 52'? and 27" corresponding to the roller 27 of F1 1. One of these rollers, say, the roller 27", engages a flange 10 of the driving wheel 8, while the roller 27* engages the flange 10 of the driving wheel 8. By havii'ig a spline on the shaft it is only necessary to drive the shaft by means of a sprocket pinion 54. fast thereon and a sprocket chain 55 engaging the sprocket wheel in order to drive both wheels 8 and 8 through the rollers 27 and 27".

The frame 48 has approaching arms corresponding to the arms 32 of Fig. 1, and these arms where meeting carry an inertia wheel 3-H corresponding to the inertia wheel of Fig. l. The sprocket chain engages a sprocket pinion 35 fast to the in ertia wheel in the same manner as has al ready been described with reference to similar structures in Fig. 1.

ll ith the arrangement shown and described in Fig. and associated figures a rider propelling the sprocket wheel 7 causes both drive wheels 8 and 8 to rotate simultancously, and the machine is driven in the same manner as in Fig. 1 except that the rear support is wider. A power motor 7" may be used in the structure of Fig. 5 the same asin the structure of Fig. l and may be installed in the drive wheel portion of the wheel instead of in the frame, as in Fig. 1. In fact, the motor 7 or 7 may be located in either form of the machine wherever tlound most convenient.

The rollers 21 and 25 are spread apart so that the upper portions of the drive wheels are correspondingly spread. Because of the breadth of the fork or yoke 19 the rollers 27 and 27 may be caused. to approach or to recede, and then will cause a corresponding change in the relation of those portions of the drive wheels next to the ground, so that the spread of the wheels at the ground may be sutlicient to produce a tricycle having a rear spread corresponding to ordinary tricycles, or the wheels may be brought so close together as to correspond closely to an ordinary bicycle. In order to cause the spread of the wheels either by moving one wheel. or both, one or both of the rollers 27 and 27" may be under the control of a mechai'iism which will be described with reference to one of the rollers only, since when. both rollers are so equipped the structures are substantially identical. if it be considered that the roller 27 is the one ['0 be adjusted, it is provided with a forked member 57 carried by a pivoted arm 58 having a pivot connection 59 with the frame -l-8 at the end remote from its connection with the fork 57. Moreover, the arm 58 carries a nut 60 movable along a screw 61 mounted in the frame 48 and in turn carrying a sprocket pinion 62 engaged by a sprocket chain 633 which may be extended to a sprocket pinion 64 on the frame 1 close to the handle bars, and if need be also carried over idler sprocket pinions 65 acting as direction-changiug devices. The pinion 6% is shown as under the control. of a handle (36 so that the chain 63 may be actuated to turn the screw 61 to move the arm 58 in one direction or the other. In this way the controlled roller 27 is shifted toward and from the roller 27 and a corresponding shift of the wheel 8 results. By duplicating the parts with the sprocket pinion 62 common to both screws and the screws properly related the wheels 8 and 8 may be shifted oppositely and simultaneously to cause them to spread or approach where engaging the ground.

The structures of Figs. 1 and 5 and associated figures are substantially identical except that Fig. 5 duplicates some parts shown in Fig. l and therefore provides a tricycle structure instead of a bicycle structure. Those parts which contribute to the ease of running of the bicycle structure are retained in the tricycle structure, While the tricycle structure provides for a more stable upstanding of the machine, but permits the conversion of the tricycle structure into a machine closely simulating a bicycle structure.

What is claimed is 1. A bicycle or tricycle provided with a drive wheel in the form of an annulus, divergent arms with rollers engaging and sustained by the annulus, driving means for one of the rollers having connections thereto, propelling means for the driving means,

and an inertia wheel located to one side of the axis of the annulus and carried by the arms, said inertia wheel being engaged and actuated by the connections between the propelled roller and the driving means therefor.

2. A bicycle or tricycle having a drive wheel in the form of an annulus, divergent arms with rollers engaging and sustained by the annulus, driving means for one of the rollers having driving connections therewith, and an inertia wheel mounted between the driving means and the annulus, and engaged and. actuated by the connections between the roller and driving means, said connections being proportioned to drive the inertia wheel at a higher speed than the driving means.

3. A. bicycle or tricycle having a driving wheel in the form of an annulus. propelling means for the drive wheel including a. rotatable member engaging the annulus to rotate it, another rotatable member mounted in the axis of the annulus, said. rotatable i'ueinbers having chain and sprocket connections, and an inertia or fly wheel mounted a frame for the wheels located interior and common to both wheels and having diver gent armswith rollers engaging respective flanges of the wheels means for propelling the wheels through certain of the rollers,

and means for causing the separation and approach of ,theground. engaging portions of the Wheels at will. 7

i 95. ir-k tricycle provided with a pair of driving wheels comprising tire receiving rirns with inwardly 1 directed iadial flanges, a irame-fforvthewheels located interior and common to bothavheels and having tdivergent. arms with. rollers engaging respective flanges of the wheels, means for propelling the Wheels through certain of the rollers, andunieans for causing the separation and approach of the ground engaging portions of the wheels at will, the propelling means meat-er also includingan inertia wheelrconnected thereto for actuation hy the propelling means.

i 6..A tricycle comprising a-suitahle frame with a steering wheel, a pair-of propelling wheels each consisting of a tire receiving riin having an inwardly directed annular flange, a frame mounted on the main frame and provided with divergent ar ns,' rollers on the arms engagingvthe fla1,1ge,yone of the arms being adjustable lengthwise to deter mine the pressure of the rollers on. the flange, an inertia wheel carried by the second nained franie, pedal driving ineans connected to certain of the rollers and to the inertia wheel for the propulsion thereof, and means under thecontrol of the operator of the tricyclei'or causing the separation or approachof the driving wheels in a direction lateral of the direction. of travel of the tricycle at the ground engaging portionsof sald driving wheels.

In testimony, that as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN: AUGUST MYERS.

Witnesses:

ELMER F. Mmns, GLAUs VALENTINE Garrison.

Copies of thislpatentmay be obtained for five cents each, by: addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washingtun, I G.

I claim the foregoing 

